Abhay Sinha President IMPPA And FFI Strongly Opposes DPIIT’s AI Copyright Proposal, Calls It A Threat To Cinema

With Artificial Intelligence (AI) advancing rapidly, it has led to increased conversations around protection of copyrighted material and personality rights. Now, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) and the film industry at large find itself at crossroads. On February 4, IMPPA shot a letter to the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), opposing its subsidiary Generative Artificial Intelligence and Copyright Committee’s proposal of Hybrid Copyright Licensing Framework for AI Training.

According to the proposal, AI developers – comprising individuals and corporate entities – would use “lawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of right” and the original copyright holders would get “fair compensation”. The “flat” compensation rate would be decided by the government-appointed committee, Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT). Also, the compensation will be given not at the training stage, but only when the AI developer generates revenue from its content. The paper was published on December 8 by the DPIIT, which sought feedback from various fields.

In its letter to DPIIT, a copy of which is in possession, IMPPA asserted that there is “widespread concern within the film, music, and entertainment industry” regarding the framework’s far-reaching consequences. The body, which includes producers Karan Johar, Rohit Shetty, Ajay Devgn, Salman Khan, and many others, shot down the proposal that opens the floodgates to use copyrighted material.

Talking to Abhay Sinha, President, IMPPA, said that if implemented, it will adversely affect Indian film producers. “The government will take all decisions on its own. They will take our films, but we don’t know whether they will give us [adequate] money for it. We make films worth ‘100 crore! The film industry will incur huge losses. All our producers are in disagreement with what the government wants to introduce.”

Anil Nagrath, Secretary, IMPPA, revealed that the body sent its first letter on January 2, questioning why nobody was included in the committee and seeking an extension of the deadline. He said that most bodies are fundamentally opposed to the plan, adding, “How can you allow anybody to modify my content on a blanket permission, and pay me [any sum] you want? Suppose [somebody] makes a modified film on Dhurandhar [2025], and sells it to anybody they want. This will destroy the Indian film industry!”

Nagrath added that small films will be even worse hit with this move. He added that IMPPA has alerted producer bodies across the country. “We have sent [our] letter to the film producers bodies in the various cities of India. Indian Broadcasters Association and Producers Guild have also written letters to the DPIIT, opposing the proposal.”

AI developers, including individuals and corporate entities registered with Copyright Royalties Collective for AI Training (CRCAT), will use “lawfully accessed copyrighted content for AI training as a matter of right”. The original copyright holders will get “fair compensation”, which will be a “flat” rate decided by the CRCAT.

More than 35 bodies come under the purview of the proposed policy. It includes music bodies such as Indian Performing Rights Society (IPRS) and Indian Singers and Musicians Rights Association (ISAMRA), film bodies such as Producers Guild of India, and bodies in the publishing sector like Federation of Indian Publishers (FIP) and Association of Publishers in India.

In its February 4 letter, Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) opposed the proposal. It said that the approach is a “serious encroachment upon established rights and a direct threat to the long-term stability and viability of the creative sector.”